The 52 Best Summer Wedding Guest Dresses for Staying Cool and Looking Chic

Receiving formal invitations for forthcoming summer weddings has the editors at BRIDES abuzz about how to dress for June, July, and August celebrations. Luckily, the options for summer wedding guest dresses are endless (and just starting to appear online and in in-person retailers!), as this is the time for bright hues, romantic florals, and long, flowy silhouettes to make an appearance. Aside from the aesthetic components of your soon-to-be summer wedding guest dress, it’s crucial to consider options that will keep you cool in hot temperatures, especially if the ceremony is outdoors. To achieve this, seek out sleeveless silhouettes, ideally in lightweight and breathable fabrics. What's more, you must read the invitation or wedding website carefully to ensure you shop for dresses that match the dress code the couple has requested, whether that's formal, semi-formal, cocktail, or black-tie (to name a few).

With all styles, price points, and dress codes considered, the BRIDES team spent days searching for the best summer wedding guest dresses to purchase for peak wedding season. Ahead, discover our top picks, organized by dress code for a seamless shopping experience.

Editor's Picks for Summer Wedding Guest Dresses

• The Cool-Girl Slip Dress: Anna October Tulip Dress
• The Made-For-Tropical-Destination-Weddings Maxi: Arrange Curve Spiral Trim Maxi Dress
• The Fun Floral Mini: Cara Cara Mackenzie Mini Dress
• Your Backyard Wedding Bestie: ASOS LUXE Curve Cotton Sateen Maxi Dress
• The Chic One-Shoulder Moment: Sau Lee Jackson Gown
• Floor-Length Florals: Sachin & Babi Giovanna Sequined Strapless Gown

The Best Formal Summer Wedding Guest Dresses

"Formal wedding attire requests can be confusing for guests: It's less dressy than black-tie, but more elevated than cocktail," says BRIDES Senior Editorial Director Gabby Rello Duffy. "When in doubt, women should choose floor- or midi-length dresses, dressier cocktail dresses, or even a more formal-looking jumpsuit."

This Anna October Gown always makes BRIDES' shopping writer Maddie Barber stop scrolling for a moment to admire the tulip-shaped cups and effortless slip silhouette. The currently-trending butter yellow hue is the perfect finishing touch.

Whether you're headed to Tulum, Bali, Costa Rica, or any other tropical locale for a destination wedding this summer, this one-shoulder maxi is made for these nuptials. A turquoise colorway and spiral-shaped shoulder detail bring the bright, playful elements necessary for a tropical wedding weekend.

Best Semi-Formal and Cocktail Summer Wedding Guest Dresses 

"If you're considering a mini or more casual piece for a semi-formal or cocktail dress code, take this opportunity to have the most fun with your look," says Barber. "Opt for bold colors or prints, fun details like asymmetrical hems, ruffles, or floral embellishments, or even simpler choices that act as a blank slate for accessorizing to the max. Don't let a less formal dress code stop you from making a statement!"

Featuring a floral print in every color you can think of, this Cara Cara mini shift dress is perfect for a cocktail wedding. The shorter hemline and cotton fabric will also keep you cool in warmer temperatures.

This ASOS maxi's bright fuchsia colorway screams "summer," and its breathable cotton material makes it suitable for any backyard or garden nuptials. The bow detail on the back is perfect for the wedding guests with a feminine sense of style.

Best Summer Wedding Guest Dresses for a Black-Tie Wedding

Traditionally, black-tie weddings call for formal, floor-length dresses; however, today's brides often adapt the definition to suit modern trends. If you have a few weddings with this dress code on your summer calendar, it could be worth it to invest in one or two fancy options to wear more than once, as they tend to have higher price tags. BRIDES Senior Editor Lauren Pardee says, "I'm currently at the age where I'm going to three to seven weddings a year—the bulk being in the summertime. So, I've found it worth investing in a nice gown that I can wear multiple times. This way I always feel chic and elegant, and I don't have to plan as much in advance."

Pardee purchased this body-hugging, one-sleeve Sau Lee dress with allover florals for summertime formal and black-tie nuptials, calling it "the best choice" out of the several in her cart. "It was the best I've looked and felt in a dress ever—so comfortable and flattering. And I know I'll get tons of use out of it, even in years to come," she details.

If you want to go big with a true gown, Sachin & Babi's Giovanna style is perfect. The bold floral motifs are the star of the show, while the subtle sequins on the bodice add a fun, fancy touch perfect for such a glamorous dress code.

What to Look for in a Summer Wedding Guest Dress

• Fabric: If you're attending a summer wedding, it's wise to shop for summer wedding guest dresses made from breathable and comfortable fabrics like linen and cotton. These lightweight fabrics will keep you cool—especially if the wedding is outdoors—and work for every type of dress code. 
• Silhouette: When it comes to silhouettes, mini, midi, and tea-length dresses are ideal for summer wedding guest dresses and work especially well for beach and garden venues. However, any full-length dress is suitable, as well, especially if they come in the aforementioned breathable fabrics. 
• Style: Attending a summer wedding is also the perfect chance to experiment with fun prints and vibrant colors. When selecting a dress with bold hues, consider the bridal party's color palette. Wedding guest dressing etiquette suggests that you want to avoid clashing or drawing too much attention to yourself as a guest.

Why Trust BRIDES

Maddie Barber is a BRIDES writer, shopping expert, and fashion obsessive. She spent hours researching to find the best wedding guest dresses for summer nuptials, deciding on only the chicest options for BRIDES readers.